Image-processing device, image-forming device, image-processing method, and computer readable medium

ABSTRACT

An image-processing device includes: an obtaining unit that obtains image data; an area extraction unit that extracts an area having a color falling within a predetermined range of a color within a color space, in an image represented by the obtained image data; an effect extraction unit that extracts an effect applied to the image represented by the obtained image data; an effect data obtaining unit that if a type of the extracted effect is included in predetermined plural types of effect, obtains effect data representing a type of effect selected from among the predetermined plural types of effect, excluding a type of the extracted effect; and a generating unit that generates image data representing an image in which an effect of the type represented by the obtained effect data is applied to the area extracted by the area extraction unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2009-075176 filed on Mar. 25, 2009.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image-processing device, animage-forming device, an image-processing method, and a computerreadable medium.

2. Related Art

A person having color weakness has difficulty in recognizing a certainrange of a color. If a document is prepared with multiple colors, andthe colors include a color that is difficult to recognize for a personhaving color weakness, an intended use of the color by a creator of thedocument may not be conveyed to the person having color weakness.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention provides an image-processing deviceincluding: a color storage unit that stores a range of a color within acolor space; an effect storage unit that stores plural types of effectto be applied to an image; an obtaining unit that obtains image data; anarea extraction unit that extracts an area having a color falling withinthe range of a color stored in the color storage unit, in an imagerepresented by the image data obtained by the obtaining unit; an effectextraction unit that extracts an effect applied to the image representedby the image data obtained by the obtaining unit; an effect dataobtaining unit that if a type of effect extracted by the effectextraction unit is included in the plural types of effect stored in theeffect storage unit, obtains effect data representing a type of effectselected from among the plural types of effect stored in the effectstorage unit, excluding a type of effect extracted by the effectextraction unit; and a generating unit that generates image datarepresenting an image in which an effect of the type represented by theeffect data obtained by the effect data obtaining unit is applied to thearea extracted by the area extraction unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image-formingdevice 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image-processingdevice 3;

FIGS. 4A to 4B are diagrams showing an image of a character string;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation according to a firstexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6B are diagrams showing a dialogue box;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing priority levels of effects;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation according to a secondexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation according to a thirdexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation according to a fourthexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a dialogue box; and

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing an image of a bar graph.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION (1) First Exemplary Embodiment (1-1) Configuration

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a systemaccording to the present exemplary embodiment.

Image-forming device 1 and image-processing devices 3 are connected witheach other via communication line 2, which is, for example, a LAN (LocalArea Network). Image-forming device 1 has functions of copying, imageforming, and image reading. Image-processing devices 3 may be personalcomputers, which have a function of image processing. Image-processingdevices 3 also have a function of providing image-forming device 1 withimage data via communication line 2, and providing image-forming device1 with an instruction to form an image on the basis of the image data.Although FIG. 1 shows a single image-forming device 1 and threeimage-processing devices 3, there may be a different number ofimage-forming devices 1 and image-processing devices 3 connected tocommunication line 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image-formingdevice 1.

Image-forming device 1 includes control unit 11, storage unit 12,operation unit 13, display unit 14, communication unit 15, image-readingunit 16, and image-forming unit 17. Control unit 11 includes a CPU(Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (RandomAccess Memory). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or storageunit 12 to control components of image-forming device 1. Storage unit 12is a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard DiskDrive), which stores programs and data. Operation unit 13 includesplural keys, and in response to an operation by a user, outputs a signalcorresponding to the operation to control unit 11. Display unit 14includes a liquid crystal display and a liquid crystal driving circuit,and displays information on progress of a processing or guidance aboutan operation, on the basis of data provided from control unit 11.Communication unit 15 includes a communication interface, andcommunicates with image-processing device 3 via communication line 2.

Image-reading unit 16 includes an image pickup device such as a CCD(Charge Coupled Device), and causes the image pickup device to read animage formed on a recording sheet to generate image data representingthe read image. Image-forming unit 17 includes a photosensitive drum forholding an image, an exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive drumon the basis of image data to form an electrostatic latent image on thedrum, a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image toform a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers a toner image to arecording sheet, and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image transferredto a recording sheet, on the recording sheet. Image-forming unit 17forms an image represented by image data generated by image-reading unit16, or an image represented by image data received via communicationunit 15, on a recording sheet. Namely, image-forming unit 17 forms animage represented by image data generated by an image-forming device, ona recording medium such as a recording sheet.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image-processingdevice 3.

Image-processing device 3 includes control unit 31, storage unit 32,operation unit 33, display unit 34, and communication unit 35. Controlunit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read OnlyMemory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU executes a programstored in the ROM and storage unit 32 to control components ofimage-processing device 3. Operation unit 33 includes a keyboard and amouse, and in response to an operation by a user, provides control unit31 with a signal corresponding to the operation. Display unit 34 may bea CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal display. Display unit 34displays information on the basis of image data provided from controlunit 31. Communication unit 35 includes a communication circuit and acommunication interface, which communicates with image-forming device 1via communication line 2.

Storage unit 32 is a nonvolatile auxiliary storage device such as an HDD(Hard Disk Drive), which stores programs and data. Storage unit 32stores word-processing application program 321. Control unit 31, byfollowing a procedure described in word processing application program321, generates image data representing a document in which characters,graphics, and/or tables are arranged, in the RAM. Control unit 31 is anexample of an obtaining unit that obtains image data.

Storage unit 32 also stores printer driver 322. Control unit 31, byfollowing a procedure described in printer driver 322, converts imagedata generated using word-processing application program 321 into imagedata described in a page description language that can be interpreted byimage-forming device 1. Printer driver 322 describes a range of a redcolor within an RGB color space. In the present exemplary embodiment,each color of RGB is represented in 256 shades, and a range of a redcolor is represented as follows: R=255, G=0 to 51, and B=0 to 51.Storage unit 32 is an example of a color storage unit that stores arange of a particular color within a color space.

Printer driver 322 also describes plural types of effects applied to ared character. The types of effects include hatching, underline, colorreversal, bold face, and italic face. A color reversal is a process ofsurrounding a character with a rectangle, filling in an area inside therectangle with the color of the character, and changing the color of thecharacter to white. Storage unit 32 is an example of an effect storageunit that stores plural types of effects to be applied to an image.

Printer driver 32 also describes a procedure of an operation carried outby control unit 31 on image data generated using word-processingapplication program 321. In the operation, control unit 31 applies aneffect to an area having a color falling within a range of a particularcolor, in an image represented by generated image data, therebygenerating image data representing an image to which an effect isapplied.

(1-2) Operation

A user causes image-processing device 3 to execute word-processingapplication program 321, and while viewing an image displayed on displayunit 34, prepares a document using operation unit 33. If there is acharacter to be emphasized in the document, the user providesimage-processing unit 3 with an instruction to change the color of thecharacter to red, using operation unit 33. FIG. 4A shows an example of aprepared document. In the document, three characters E, F, and G arerepresented in red, and the other characters are represented in black.Also, two characters A and B are underlined, and character D isrepresented in italics. Control unit 31, by following a proceduredescribed in word-processing application program 321, generates imagedata corresponding to an operation by the user in a RAM. Subsequently,if an instruction to print the prepared document is given, control unit31 executes printer driver 322 to start an operation shown in FIG. 5.

Control unit 31 initially extracts a red character in an imagerepresented by image data (step A01). The image data may describe colorinformation (gray levels of R, G, and B) specifying colors of charactersshown in FIG. 4A and character information specifying characters inassociation with each other. Control unit 31, by comparing the colorinformation and a range of a red color described in printer driver 322,extracts a red character. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4A,three characters E, F, and G are extracted as a red character. If a redcharacter is extracted (step A01: YES), control unit 31 displaysdialogue box 5 on display unit 34 to allow the user to determine whetherto apply an effect to the red character, as shown in FIG. 6A (step A02).If a red character is not extracted (step A01: NO), control unit 31proceeds to step A08.

Control unit 31 is an example of an area extraction unit that extractsan area having a color falling within a range of a color stored in acolor storage unit, in an image represented by image data obtained by anobtaining unit.

Dialogue box 5 displayed at step A02 has radio buttons R51 and R52, andthe user is able to select either button using operation unit 33. If theuser selects radio button R51 corresponding to “YES”, and presses softbutton B53 corresponding to “OK” (step A03: YES), control unit 31proceeds to step A04. On the other hand, if the user selects radiobutton R52 corresponding to “NO”, and presses soft button B53 (step A03:NO), control unit 31 proceeds to step A08, without applying an effect tothe red character.

At step A04, control unit 31 extracts an effect applied to the image.The image data may describe, in addition to information specifying facesand sizes of characters shown in FIG. 4A, types of effects to be appliedto the characters. Control unit 31 reads the types of effects from theimage data. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4A, effects,underline, and italic face, are extracted. Control unit 31, if an effectis extracted in the image (step A04: YES), proceeds to step A05. On theother hand, if no effect is extracted (step A04: NO), control unit 31proceeds to step A06.

Control unit 31 is an example of an effect extraction unit that extractsan effect applied to an image represented by image data obtained by anobtaining unit.

At step A05, control unit 31 displays alert dialogue box 6 on displayunit 34, as shown in FIG. 6B. If the user presses soft button B61corresponding to “OK”, control unit 31 displays dialogue box 7 havinglist box 71 on display unit 34 to allow the user to select a type ofeffect to be applied to the image, as shown in FIG. 6C (step S06).

In list box 71, the types of effects described in printer driver 322 aredisplayed. However, the types of effects, underline, and italic face,extracted at step A04 are not selectable, and types of effects otherthan underline and italic face are displayed as selectable items. When atype of effect is selected, plural types of effects other than underlineand italic face may be selected. If an effect is not used, item, “notuse” is selected.

Control unit 31 is an example of a presenting unit that, if a type ofeffect extracted by an effect extraction unit is included in pluraltypes of effects stored in an effect storage unit, presents the pluraltypes of effect stored in the effect storage unit, excluding a type ofeffect extracted by the effect extraction unit. Control unit 31 is alsoan example of a specification receiving unit that receives aspecification of one or more types of effect from among types of effectspresented by a presenting unit. Control unit 31 is further an example ofan effect data obtaining unit that obtains data representing a type ofeffect specified using a specification receiving unit, as effect data.

If the user selects a desired type in list box 71, control unit 31proceeds to step A07. Control unit 31 writes data representing the typeselected at step A06 in the image data in association with the characterextracted at step A01. In a case where hatching is selected at step A06,control unit 31 writes data representing hatching in the image data inassociation with three characters E, F, and G.

Control unit 31 is an example of a generating unit that generates imagedata representing an image in which an effect of a type represented byeffect data obtained by an effect data obtaining unit is applied to anarea extracted by an area extraction unit.

At step A08, control unit 31 converts the image data generated at stepA07 into image data described in a page-description language, and sendsthe image data and an instruction to form an image on the basis of theimage data to image-forming device 1 via communication line 2.

When the image data and the instruction sent from image-processingdevice 3 is received by communication unit 15 of image-forming device 1,control unit 11 of image-forming device 1 converts the image data intobit-mapped image data, binarizes the bit-mapped image data, and providesimage-forming unit 17 with the binarized image data. Image-forming unit17 forms an image represented by the provided image data on a recordingsheet. In a case where hatching is selected at step A06, an image isformed in which three characters E, F, and G are hatched, as shown inFIG. 4B.

(2) Second Exemplary Embodiment

The present exemplary embodiment is a partially modified version of thefirst exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, differences between the presentexemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment will bedescribed.

Printer driver 322 describes plural types of effect to be applied to ared character. The types of effect have a predetermined priority level,and printer driver 322 describes types of effect and priority levels ofthe types in association with each other, as shown in FIG. 7.

Control unit 31 is an example of a level storage unit that storespriority levels of types of effect stored in an effect storage unit.

Now, an operation of image-processing device 3 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure of an operation carried out bycontrol unit 31 by executing printer driver 322. Operations of steps A01to A04 are identical to those of the first exemplary embodiment.

At step B06, control unit 31 selects a type of effect to be applied to ared character extracted at step A01, on the basis of priority levelsdescribed in printer driver 322. In a case where at step A04, effects,underline and italic face, are extracted, control unit 31 selects a typeof effect having a highest priority level from among types of effectother than underline and italic face. In this case, it is assumed thathatching is selected. However, it is to be noted that plural types ofeffects may be selected in descending order of priority.

Control unit 31 is an example of a selecting unit that if a type of aneffect extracted by an effect extraction unit is included in types ofeffect stored in an effect storage unit, selects one or more types ofeffect from among the types of effect stored in the effect storage unit,excluding a type of the effect extracted by the effect extraction unit,on the basis of the priority levels of the types of effect. Control unit31 is also an example of an effect data obtaining unit that obtains datarepresenting a type of a effect selected by a selecting unit, as effectdata.

After the operation of step B06 is completed, control unit 31 proceedsto an operation of step A07. Operations of steps A07 and A08 areidentical to those of the first exemplary embodiment. Since hatching isselected at step A06, an image is formed in which three characters E, F,and G are hatched, as shown in FIG. 4B. If an effect is not extracted atstep A04 (step A04: NO), an effect of a predetermined type (e.g.,underline) is applied to the red character.

(3) Third Exemplary Embodiment

The present exemplary embodiment is a partially modified version of thefirst exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, differences between the presentexemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment will bedescribed.

FIG. 9 is diagram showing a procedure of an operation carried out bycontrol unit 31 by executing printer driver 322. Operations of steps A01to 03 are identical to those of the first exemplary embodiment.

At step C04, control unit 31 displays dialogue box 7 having list box 71on display unit 34 to allow a user to select a type of effect to beapplied to an image. In list box 71, all types of effect described inprinter driver 322 are displayed as selectable items.

Control unit 31 is an example of a second specification receiving unitthat receives a specification of a type of effect to be applied to animage represented by image data obtained by an obtaining unit.

If the user selects a desired type in list box 71, control unit 31proceeds to an operation of step C05. It is assumed that the userselects underline.

At step C05, control unit 31 extracts an effect of the type selected atstep C04 in an image represented by image data. Specifically, controlunit 31 initially reads types of effect associated with characters fromthe image data. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 4A, sinceeffects, underline and italic face, are applied to characters, underlineand italic face are extracted as a type of effect. Subsequently, controlunit 31 determines whether the extracted types of effect include thetype of effect selected at step C04. Since underline is selected at stepC04, the extracted types of effect include the type of effect selectedat step C04.

Control unit is an example of a second effect extraction unit thatextracts an effect of a type specified using a secondspecification-receiving unit, in an image.

If an effect of the type selected at step C04 is extracted (step C05:YES), control unit 31 proceeds to step C06. If an effect of the typeselected at step C04 is not extracted (step C05: NO), control unit 31proceeds to step A07.

At step C06, control unit 31 displays alert dialogue box 6 on displayunit 34, as shown in FIG. 6B. If the user presses soft button B61corresponding to “OK”, control unit 31 displays dialogue box 7 havinglist box 71 on display unit 34 to allow the user to select a type ofeffect to be applied to the image, as shown in FIG. 6C (step C07).

In list box 71, types of effect described in printer driver 322 aredisplayed. However, the effects, underline and italic face, extracted atstep C05 are not selectable, and effects other than underline and italicface are displayed as selectable items.

Control unit 31 is an example of a presenting unit that if an effect ofa type specified using a second specification receiving unit isextracted by a second effect extraction unit, presents types of effectstored in an effect storage unit, excluding a type of effect extractedby an effect extraction unit and the type of effect extracted by thesecond effect extraction unit.

If the user selects a desired type in list box 71, control unit 31proceeds to step A07. Operations of steps A07 and A08 are identical tothose of the first exemplary embodiment. If hatching is selected at stepC07, an image is formed in which three characters E, F, and G arehatched, as shown in FIG. 4B.

(4) Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

The present exemplary embodiment is a partially modified version of thefirst exemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, differences between the presentexemplary embodiment and the third exemplary embodiment will bedescribed.

Printer driver 322 describes plural types of effect to be applied to ared character. The types of effect have a predetermined priority level,and printer driver 322 describes types of effect and priority levels ofthe types in association with each other, as shown in FIG. 7.

Control unit 31 is an example of a level storage unit that storespriority levels of types of effect stored in an effect storage unit.

Now, an operation of image-processing device 3 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a procedure of an operation carried out bycontrol unit 31 by executing printer driver 322. Operations of steps A01to C05 are identical to those of the third exemplary embodiment.

At step D07, control unit 31 selects a type of effect to be applied to ared character extracted at step A01, on the basis of priority levelsdescribed in printer driver 322. In a case where at step C05, effects,underline and italic face, are extracted, control unit 31 selects a typeof effect having a highest priority level among types of effect otherthan underline and italic face. In this case, it is assumed thathatching is selected. However, it is to be noted that plural types ofeffect may be selected in descending order of priority.

Control unit 31 is an example of a selecting unit that if an effect of atype specified using a second specification receiving unit is extractedby a second effect extraction unit, selects one or more types of effectfrom among types of effect stored in an effect storage unit, excluding atype of effect extracted by an effect extraction unit and the type ofthe effect extracted by the second effect extraction unit, on the basisof priority levels of the types of effect.

After the operation of step D07 is completed, control unit 31 proceedsto an operation of step A07. Operations of steps A07 and A08 areidentical to those of the first exemplary embodiment. Since hatching isselected at step D07, an image is formed in which three characters E, F,and G are hatched, as shown in FIG. 4B.

(5) Modifications

Modifications described below may be combined with each other.

Modification 1

At step C06 of the third exemplary embodiment, a user may be allowed toselect one of three options of: selecting a type of effect by a user,letting an image-processing device select a type of effect, or applyinga predetermined effect to a character. For example, dialogue box 8 shownin FIG. 11 may be displayed at step A05 of the first exemplaryembodiment, and if radio button R81 corresponding to “re-select myself”is selected, operations from step C07 may be carried out. If radiobutton R82 corresponding to “re-select automatically” is selected,operations from step B06 of the second exemplary embodiment may becarried out. If radio button R83 corresponding to “print without change”is selected, an effect selected by a user at step C04 may be applied toa character. Among the three options, only two options may be presentedto be selectable by a user.

Modification 2

In the first to fourth exemplary embodiments, control unit 31 may adddata to an image, representing a color of a character to which an effectis applied. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, a legend may be added in ablank space, indicating that hatched characters are in red.

Control unit 31 is an example of a generating unit that generates imagedata representing an image in which an effect of a type represented byeffect data obtained by an effect data obtaining unit is applied to anarea extracted by an area extraction unit, and an image indicating acolor of the area to which an effect is applied.

Modification 3

In the above exemplary embodiments, a range of a red color is stored instorage unit 32, and an effect is applied to a character having a colorfalling within the range. In the exemplary embodiments, a range of anycolor may be stored in storage unit 32. A person having color weaknesshas difficulty in recognizing a range of a given color. Such a personmay not be able to realize a difference in color between a characterrepresented in a certain range of a color other than black and acharacter represented in black. Accordingly, a range of a color storedin storage unit 32 may be determined on the basis of a range of a colorthat is difficult to recognize for a person having color weakness.

It is to be noted that although color weakness is classified intoseveral types on the basis of a range of a color that is difficult torecognize, it is said that a rate of persons having difficulty inrecognizing a red color is relatively high. Also, when a characterstring is represented in a color other than black to highlight it, a redcolor is commonly used. Accordingly, storing a range of a red color instorage unit 32 is preferable.

Modification 4

In the above exemplary embodiments where an effect is applied to acharacter, an effect may be applied to an image such as a graphic or atable.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing an effect applied to a bar chart.Bar chart G121 is a pre-processed chart. In the chart, a barcorresponding to A branch is represented in black, a bar correspondingto B branch is represented in red, and a bar corresponding to C branchis represented in green. Also, to highlight bars corresponding to Cbranch, triangular symbols are shown below the bars.

In contrast, in bar chart G122 which is a processed chart, circularsymbols are shown below bars corresponding to B branch, and a legend isshown at the upper right corner of bar chart G122, indicating that thecircular symbols indicate that the bars are in red.

Modification 5

In the above exemplary embodiments where control unit 31 ofimage-processing device 3 applies an effect to an image by executingprinter driver 322, a program describing a procedure of the operationmay be stored in storage unit 12 of image-forming device 1, and theoperation may be carried out by control unit 11. If the configuration isemployed, an effect may be applied to an image represented by image datarepresenting an image read by image-reading unit 16. Accordingly, animage with an effect may be obtained even in a case where an imageformed on a recording sheet is copied.

Also, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) for carrying outthe above operation may be provided in image-processing device 3.

Modification 6

In the above exemplary embodiments where a range of a particular coloris represented by gray levels of an RGB color space, a range of aparticular color may be represented in a color space such as an HLScolor space representing a color in hue, saturation, and lightness.

Modification 7

In the first and third exemplary embodiments, types of effect that aredifferent from that of an effect extracted from an image, from amongtypes of effect stored in storage unit 32, are displayed on display unit34 in a list box form. In the exemplary embodiments, types of effectthat are different from that of an effect extracted from an image mayhave an assigned unique identification number. Types of effect and theiridentification numbers may be output by voice from a speaker, and a usermay input an identification number of a desired type in image-processingdevice 3.

Modification 8

In the above exemplary embodiments, types of effect that should not beused in combination may be stored in storage unit 32 in association witheach other, and combined usage of such effects may be avoided. Forexample, it is considered that if an underline is used in a documentprepared using a spreadsheet, since the underline overlaps a ruled line,the underline is hard to notice. It is also considered that if acharacter is hatched on a colored background, the hatching is hard tonotice. In view of this, a pair of a ruled line and an underline and apair of a colored background and a hatching may be recorded in a tablestored in storage unit 32, and if a component extracted from an image bycontrol unit 31 is stored in storage unit 32, a corresponding effect maybe avoided.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

1. An image-processing device comprising: a color storage unit thatstores a range of a color within a color space; an effect storage unitthat stores a plurality of types of effect to be applied to an image; anobtaining unit that obtains image data; an area extraction unit thatextracts an area having a color falling within the range of a colorstored in the color storage unit, in an image represented by the imagedata obtained by the obtaining unit; an effect extraction unit thatextracts an effect applied to the image represented by the image dataobtained by the obtaining unit; an effect data obtaining unit that if atype of effect extracted by the effect extraction unit is included inthe plurality of types of effect stored in the effect storage unit,obtains effect data representing a type of effect selected from amongthe plurality of types of effect stored in the effect storage unit,excluding a type of effect extracted by the effect extraction unit; anda generating unit that generates image data representing an image inwhich an effect of the type represented by the effect data obtained bythe effect data obtaining unit is applied to the area extracted by thearea extraction unit.
 2. The image-processing device according to claim1, further comprising: a presenting unit that if a type of effectextracted by the effect extraction unit is included in the plurality oftypes of effect stored in the effect storage unit, presents theplurality of types of effect stored in the effect storage unit,excluding a type of effect extracted by the effect extraction unit; anda specification receiving unit that receives a specification of a typeof effect from among the types of effect presented by the presentingunit, wherein the effect data obtaining unit obtains data representingthe type of effect specified using the specification receiving unit, aseffect data.
 3. The image-processing device according to claim 2,further comprising: a second specification receiving unit that receivesa specification of a type of effect to be applied to the imagerepresented by the image data obtained by the obtaining unit; and asecond effect extraction unit that extracts an effect of the typespecified using the second specification receiving unit in the image,wherein if an effect of the type specified using the secondspecification receiving unit is extracted by the second effectextraction unit, the presenting unit presents the plurality of types ofeffect stored in the effect storage unit, excluding a type of effectextracted by the effect extraction unit and the type of effect extractedby the second effect extraction unit.
 4. The image-processing deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a level storage unit thatstores priority levels of the plurality of types of effect stored in theeffect storage unit; and a selecting unit that if a type of effectextracted by the effect extraction unit is included in the plurality oftypes of effect stored in the effect storage unit, selects a type ofeffect from among the plurality of types of effect stored in the effectstorage unit, excluding a type of effect extracted by the effectextraction unit, on the basis of the priority levels of the plurality oftypes of effect stored in the level storage unit, wherein the effectdata obtaining unit obtains data representing the type of effectselected by the selecting unit, as effect data.
 5. The image-processingdevice according to claim 4, further comprising: a second specificationreceiving unit that receives a specification of a type of effect to beapplied to the image represented by the image data obtained by theobtaining unit; and a second effect extraction unit that extracts aneffect of the type specified using the second specification receivingunit in the image, wherein if an effect of the type specified using thesecond specification receiving unit is extracted by the second effectextraction unit, the selecting unit selects a type of effect from amongthe plurality of types of effect stored in the effect storage unit,excluding a type of effect extracted by the effect extraction unit andthe type of effect extracted by the second effect extraction unit, onthe basis of the priority levels of the plurality of types of effectstored in the level storage unit.
 6. The image-processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the generating unit generates image datarepresenting an image in which an effect of the type represented by theeffect data obtained by the effect data obtaining unit is applied to thearea extracted by the area extraction unit, and an image indicating acolor of the area to which the effect is applied.
 7. Theimage-processing device according to claim 2, wherein the generatingunit generates image data representing an image in which an effect ofthe type represented by the effect data obtained by the effect dataobtaining unit is applied to the area extracted by the area extractionunit, and an image indicating a color of the area to which the effect isapplied.
 8. The image-processing device according to claim 3, whereinthe generating unit generates image data representing an image in whichan effect of the type represented by the effect data obtained by theeffect data obtaining unit is applied to the area extracted by the areaextraction unit, and an image indicating a color of the area to whichthe effect is applied.
 9. The image-processing device according to claim4, wherein the generating unit generates image data representing animage in which an effect of the type represented by the effect dataobtained by the effect data obtaining unit is applied to the areaextracted by the area extraction unit, and an image indicating a colorof the area to which the effect is applied.
 10. The image-processingdevice according to claim 5, wherein the generating unit generates imagedata representing an image in which an effect of the type represented bythe effect data obtained by the effect data obtaining unit is applied tothe area extracted by the area extraction unit, and an image indicatinga color of the area to which the effect is applied.
 11. An image-formingdevice comprising: the image-processing device according to claim 1; andan image-forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet,represented by image data generated by the image-processing device. 12.An image-forming device comprising: the image-processing deviceaccording to claim 2; and an image-forming unit that forms an image on arecording sheet, represented by image data generated by theimage-processing device.
 13. An image-forming device comprising: theimage-processing device according to claim 3; and an image-forming unitthat forms an image on a recording sheet, represented by image datagenerated by the image-processing device.
 14. An image-forming devicecomprising: the image-processing device according to claim 4; and animage-forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet, representedby image data generated by the image-processing device.
 15. Animage-forming device comprising: the image-processing device accordingto claim 5; and an image-forming unit that forms an image on a recordingsheet, represented by image data generated by the image-processingdevice.
 16. An image-forming device comprising: the image-processingdevice according to claim 6; and an image-forming unit that forms animage on a recording sheet, represented by image data generated by theimage-processing device.
 17. An image-processing method comprising:obtaining image data; extracting an area having a color falling within apredetermined range of a color within a color space, in an imagerepresented by the obtained image data; extracting an effect applied tothe image represented by the obtained image data; if a type of theextracted effect is included in predetermined plurality of types ofeffect, obtaining effect data representing a type of effect selectedfrom among the predetermined plurality of types of effect, excluding atype of the extracted effect; and generating image data representing animage in which an effect of the type represented by the obtained effectdata is applied to the extracted area.
 18. A computer readable mediumstoring a program causing a computer to execute a process forimage-processing, the computer comprising: a color storage unit thatstores a range of a color within a color space; and an effect storageunit that stores plurality of types of effect to be applied to an image,the process comprising: obtaining image data; extracting an area havinga color falling within the range of a color stored in the color storageunit, in an image represented by the obtained image data; extracting aneffect applied to the image represented by the obtained image data; if atype of the extracted effect is included in the plurality of types ofeffect stored in the effect storage unit, obtaining effect datarepresenting a type of effect selected from among the plurality of typesof effect stored in the effect storage unit, excluding a type of theextracted effect; and generating image data representing an image inwhich an effect of the type represented by the obtained effect data isapplied to the extracted area.